Unsolicited Proposals

The Department of Energy's (DOE’s) central point of receipt for all Unsolicited Proposals is the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) as outlined in the link below which includes all DOE Program Research Areas.

DOE encourages organizations and individuals to submit self-generated, unsolicited proposals that are relevant to DOE's research and development mission.

An unsolicited proposal is an application for support of an idea, method, or approach, which is submitted by an individual, business, or organization based solely on the proposer's initiative rather than in response to a DOE solicitation. Funding of unsolicited proposals is considered a noncompetitive action.

The proposal document should persuade the staff of DOE and other qualified members of the scientific and engineering community who review the proposed work, that the project represents a worthwhile approach to the investigation of an important, timely problem. Each proposal should be self-contained and written with clarity and thoroughness.

The proposal must present:

Objectives that show the pertinence of the proposed work to DOE

Rationale of the approach

Methods to be pursued

Qualifications of the investigators and the institution (if applicable)

Level of funding required to attain the objectives.

A number of regulations relate to criteria governing acceptance and funding of an unsolicited proposal:

DOE considers proposals in all areas of energy and energy-related research and development with emphasis on long-term, high-risk, high-payoff technologies. DOE may accept an unsolicited proposal if it:

Demonstrates a unique and innovative concept or a unique capability of the submitter

Offers a concept or service not otherwise available to the Federal government

Does not resemble the substance of a recent, current or pending competitive solicitation.